Van-Mounted Concrete Core Drill Lift & Automation System — Custom Engineering Service

Gilani Engineering designs, fabricates and fits van-mounted concrete coring drill systems for concrete testing companies, geotechnical engineers and materials testing laboratories conducting high-volume field testing at airports, road sites and construction projects across Australia. The system is built into your own van and engineered around your drill and operational requirements. Drive to the test location, lower the drill at the press of a button, core, raise, and move to the next point. One person. No crew. No manual lifting. No water-bucket runs between holes. We fabricate and fit the system in three configuration levels — CoreVan Base, CoreVan Pro and CoreVan Airport — so you can match the build to the way your team works. Every system is custom and quoted to your van, drill and selected options.

Enquire for a Quote

Every CoreVan system is custom designed and built to suit your specific van, drill and operational requirements. Installation is typically completed within one day at our Wetherill Park workshop in Western Sydney. Phone (02) 8740 8963 or enquire about this service.

The Problem This System Solves

Concrete testing teams conducting field core drilling face a labour-efficiency problem that adds cost to every job:

• The drill is heavy. A standard concrete core drill motor and stand is difficult for one person to lift in and out of a van safely, so suppliers commonly state that two people are needed for the lift alone.
• Water supply needs constant attention. Diamond core drilling requires a continuous water feed to cool the bit, which without an integrated system means carrying and connecting water repeatedly through the day.
• Slurry management needs a dedicated person. Drilling produces wet slurry that must be collected between holes, traditionally requiring a second worker.
• The result is that a short test can take far longer than it should, with two to three workers tied up per job.

For a team conducting 50 to 70 cores per day at a site such as an airport runway or major road project, that adds up to substantial labour cost per job.

CoreVan Configuration Levels

CoreVan Base — Complete Coring System

A fully fitted single-person coring station built into your van. Suited to testing teams moving from manual setups to an integrated, vehicle-mounted system.

• Fixed rear-mounted coring station
• 100 mm diamond coring system
• 120 L baffled water tank
• Integrated pressure water system
• Industrial wet vacuum recovery
• 80 L slurry tank
• Auxiliary battery system
• Inverter power system
• LED work lighting
• Core storage trays
• Tool storage system
• Stabiliser legs
• Safety systems

CoreVan Pro — Professional Pavement Investigation

Built for pavement testing companies, geotechnical consultants and road contractors who need faster setup, faster drilling and reliable one-person operation. Everything in Base, plus:

• Powered feed system
• Hydraulic mast deployment
• 200 L baffled water tank
• 120 L slurry recovery tank
• Automatic water control
• Digital depth display
• Quick-position mast system
• Rear touchscreen controls
• Upgraded battery system

CoreVan Airport — Airport & Road Authority Specification

The full specification, suited to airports, defence, state road authorities and major engineering consultants where documentation, productivity and reduced surface occupancy matter. Designed to reduce runway and lane occupancy while improving sample documentation. Everything in Pro, plus:

• Servo-controlled feed
• Automatic drilling cycle
• Breakthrough detection
• 250 L baffled water tank
• Automatic vacuum management
• GPS location logging
• Digital sample numbering
• Camera alignment system
• 150 mm coring capability
• Airport-specification slurry containment
• Digital reporting package

How the System Works

Van-Mounted Lift

The drill unit is mounted on a custom-fabricated electric lift frame secured to the van floor. Using a simple wireless remote control, the operator raises or lowers the entire drill assembly in seconds, with no manual lifting and no second person required. The system supports drill equipment in the 150 to 260 kg range, suited to standard professional concrete core drill units.

Automatic Water Supply

A van-mounted water tank pumps a constant water feed directly to the drill throughout operation. The operator connects the feed line once and the system manages water supply continuously, removing the need for water runs between holes.

Vacuum and Slurry Recovery

An automatic vacuum extraction system collects drilling slurry and returns it to a recovery tank in the van, without a second operator managing the vacuum between holes. Combined with the water and lift systems, this is what makes the operation genuinely single-person.

Wireless Remote Control

The lift operates via a compact wireless remote with up and down controls. Optional automatic positioning is available for faster deployment.

Optional Add-Ons

• Emergency stop button to immediately halt all movement
• LED nighttime lighting for runway operations, night roadworks and low-light environments
• Independent battery to keep the lift power source separate from the vehicle battery
• Automatic vacuum system for full slurry recovery without manual vacuum management
• Automated water tank refill for extended testing without manual top-ups

The Business Case

• Before: up to three people on site, one drilling, one managing water, one managing vacuum.
• After: one person operates the entire system. Water is automatic, vacuum is automatic, and the drill raises and lowers at the press of a button.
• For a job involving 50 to 70 cores, the labour saved per job is significant.
• No operator certification is required for straightforward single-person use.
• The vehicle stays on site. Move the van to each test point, lower the drill, core, raise and move on.
• Installation is typically completed in one day.

Who This System Is For

• Concrete testing companies conducting high-volume field core drilling at airports, roads, bridges and infrastructure projects
• Geotechnical engineering firms requiring efficient one-person concrete sampling in the field
• Materials testing laboratories with field teams conducting regular site visits and core extraction
• Airport pavement testing contractors requiring high core counts across large surface areas
• Road and asphalt testing companies extracting pavement cores at multiple locations per day
• Civil construction testing companies conducting soil, concrete and asphalt field testing

System Specifications

• Load capacity: 380kg kg, suited to all type & standard concrete core drill motors and stands
• Lift mechanism: electric lift, custom-fabricated steel frame, mounted to the van floor
• Control: wireless remote, two remotes included as standard
• Power source: vehicle battery connection, with an independent battery option available
• Water system: van-mounted water tank with automatic pump feed to the drill
• Slurry management: automatic vacuum extraction available
• Coring capability: 100 mm standard, up to 150 mm on Airport specification
• Vehicle compatibility: designed for small to medium testing vans, fitted to your own vehicle
• Installation time: typically one day, drop off in the morning and collect the same afternoon
• Workshop location: Wetherill Park, Western Sydney NSW, Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm
• Customisation: every system designed to suit your specific van, drill and operational requirements

Engineered and Built in Western Sydney

CoreVan is custom designed and fabricated by Gilani Engineering’s in-house mechanical engineering team in Wetherill Park, Western Sydney, the same team behind our wheelchair accessible vehicle conversions and mobility engineering work for more than 18 years. Every system is built to suit the client’s van configuration, drill type and operational requirements, so no two installations are identical.

Workshop Location — Western Sydney

Gilani Engineering 99 Cowpasture Road, Wetherill Park NSW 2164 Phone: (02) 8740 8963 Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm AEST All installations are by appointment. Please call before bringing your vehicle in. Accessible from Parramatta, Blacktown, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Penrith, the Hills District and Greater Sydney. Testing companies from regional NSW and interstate are welcome, and vehicles can be transported or driven to our workshop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this different from buying a drill stand?

A drill stand sits on the ground, so you still need to lift the drill in and out of the van, carry water to the site and manage vacuum manually, which typically requires two to three people. CoreVan mounts the entire drill assembly in your van on an electric lift, integrates the water supply and automates the vacuum. The drill never leaves the van and one person operates everything.

Is this a product or a service?

It is a custom fabrication and fit-out service. Gilani Engineering designs, fabricates and installs the system specifically for your van and drill. Pricing depends on your van configuration, drill type and selected options such as water, vacuum, lighting and emergency stop. Contact us with your van make, model and drill details for a quote.

What type of vans is this suitable for?

The system is designed for small to medium testing vans of the type typically used by concrete and materials testing companies, and is most efficient where one-person operation is the goal. Contact us with your specific vehicle and we will confirm suitability before proceeding.

Do I need to provide my own drill?

Yes. The system is designed to mount and operate your existing concrete core drill and is compatible with standard professional drill motors. Send us your drill make and model and we will confirm compatibility.

How long does installation take?

Typically one day. Drop the van off in the morning and collect it in the afternoon, Monday to Friday at our Wetherill Park workshop. All installations are by appointment, so please call ahead.

Does the operator need any special certification?

No. The system is designed for straightforward one-person use, and no certification is required to operate the lift, water or vacuum systems.

What power does the system use?

The lift mechanism connects to the vehicle battery and draws minimal power during normal use. The drill motor itself requires a generator, which the operator supplies. An independent battery option is available if you prefer to keep the lift power source separate from the vehicle.

Can automatic vacuum and water be combined?

Yes. Automatic water supply and automatic vacuum slurry recovery can both be installed as part of the same system. This is the full configuration that enables true single-person operation with no manual intervention between holes.

Is this suitable for airport concrete testing?

Yes. The CoreVan Airport specification is designed for airport concrete testing, where high core counts are needed across a wide surface area. The combination of van-mounted lift, automatic water and automatic vacuum suits this environment, and LED lighting can be added for night operations.

Can the system be fitted if I am outside Sydney?

Yes. Testing companies from regional NSW and interstate are welcome to bring their vehicles to our Wetherill Park workshop. Installation is completed within one day to keep travel time to a minimum. Contact us to discuss logistics.

What happens if something needs repair after installation?

Gilani Engineering stocks components for this system in Australia. If a repair is needed, bring the vehicle back to our workshop and we will assess and fix it, with no overseas sourcing and no long waits for parts.

Related Services

• Vehicle Modification Services — full range
• Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Conversions
• Vehicle Modifications

Enquire About CoreVan

Pricing is custom, based on your van, drill configuration and selected options. Contact our team to discuss your operation and receive a quote. All installations are carried out at our Wetherill Park workshop in Western Sydney.